Josh Metellus

Joshua Metellus (born January 21, 1998) is an American professional football utility player for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He is currently listed as a safety. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, where he was twice named an All-Big Ten selection. He was selected by the Vikings in the 2020 NFL draft.

Josh Metellus

Metellus with the Minnesota Vikings in 2022
No. 44 – Minnesota Vikings
Position:	Safety
Personal information
Born:	(1998-01-21) January 21, 1998 (age 27) North Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	207 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school:	Charles W. Flanagan (Pembroke Pines, Florida)
College:	Michigan (2016–2019)
NFL draft:	2020: 6th round, 205th pick
Career history
Minnesota Vikings (2020–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Second-team All-Big Ten (2018) Third-team All-Big Ten (2019)
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Total tackles: 283 Sacks: 2.5 Forced fumbles: 5 Fumble recoveries: 3 Pass deflections: 16 Interceptions: 4 Stats at Pro Football Reference

College career

Metellus (#14) playing for Michigan in 2017.

After playing at Charles W. Flanagan High School, Metellus committed to Michigan on June 17, 2015, choosing the Wolverines over Colorado, Florida International, Middle Tennessee State and others.^[1] He had previously committed to Georgia Southern, but switched to Michigan after attending an affiliate camp, and Flanagan teammate Devin Bush Jr. later signed with Michigan as well.^[2]

Metellus saw some action as a backup during his true freshman season at Michigan, and garnered honorable mention all-Big Ten Conference during his sophomore season on the strength of three games started.^[3]

After practicing at both free safety and strong safety in the spring,^[4] his senior season included duties as an edge cover in the running game and a roaming safety in the passing game.^[5] Metellus was named a team captain his senior season, and participated in the 2020 Senior Bowl and 2020 NFL Combine.^[6]

Professional career

At the NFL Combine, Mettelus' 20 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, ranked fourth-most among safeties. In the vertical jump, his performance of 36.5 inches ranked sixth, and he tied for 10th in the broad jump with a mark of 10 feet, 4 inches. His time of 4.55 seconds in the – ranked 11th amongst his position group.^[7]

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	209 lb (95 kg)	32+1⁄4 in (0.82 m)	10+1⁄4 in (0.26 m)	4.55 s	1.54 s	2.66 s	4.40 s	6.94 s	36.5 in (0.93 m)	10 ft 4 in (3.15 m)	20 reps
All values from NFL Combine[8][9]

The Minnesota Vikings selected Metellus in the sixth round (205th overall) of the 2020 NFL draft.^[10] He was the 17th safety drafted in 2020 and was one of many 2020 sixth or seventh round safeties that successfully became starters, including Alohi Gilman, Jordan Fuller, Kamren Curl, and Geno Stone.

"Metellus might not have the high-end athletic traits that will earn him a starting role in camp, but if he gets into an NFL game, he might not give the job back, showing the toughness required for downhill work and just enough range on the back end."^[7]

–Dane Brugler, The Athletic

On July 23, 2020, the Minnesota Vikings signed Metellus to a four–year, $3.45 million contract that includes an initial signing bonus of $160,265.^[11]

Throughout training camp, Metellus competed against Brian Cole II for a roster spot as a backup safety. On September 5, 2020, the Minnesota Vikings waived him as part of their final roster cuts and signed him to the practice squad the next day.^[12][13] He was promoted to the active roster on September 18, 2020.^[14]

Metellus made his first career start in Week 3 of the 2022 season against the Detroit Lions, where he recorded his first career interception off Jared Goff in the final seconds of the fourth quarter in the 28–24 win.^[15]

On September 7, 2023, the Minnesota Vikings signed Mettelus to a two–year, $8.00 million contract extension that includes $5.13 million guaranteed upon signing and an initial signing bonus of $3.00 million.^[16][17][11] During the 2023 season, Metellus became notable for his versatility within Brian Flores' defense, playing in twelve different defensive positions through Week 14.^[18]

During the 2024 season, Metellus and teammate Camryn Bynum became known for their choreographed celebrations following defensive turnovers, which included references to movies such as The Parent Trap,^[19] White Chicks,^[20] and High School Musical.^[21] Metellus and Bynum combined for five interceptions on the season.^[22][23]

Personal life

Metellus's wife Hayley gave birth to their first son, Joshua Syx, in April 2021, and have openly discussed the complications faced during his birth and Hayley's subsequent postpartum depression.^[24] The couple had a second child, a daughter, in March 2025.^[25]